It took a long time to get through the warriors‘ interrogations but we managed to sort out the ones that would be going with us and the ones that would be staying behind.


    And the following morning was when we finally decided to make a move towards the other realm. Once everything was decided, we ate, got some rest and finished making our ns for the following day.


    The warriors said goodbye to their families that they had brought with them.


    I don’t think anyone got too much sleep that night, but as the sun began to rise, it was time to get up and we had to start getting ready.


    All of the warriors were going to stay in wolf form the whole time they were in the other realm, but we weren’t going to. We were going to be in human form. It would be easier for us to talk to Arthur and talk to others that might still be alive over there.


    We said goodbye to everyone that we knew and Arthur started leading up towards the portal that he came through. The one that he knew was far enough away from Morgana that we could all get through easily enough.


    “I need more detail about Avalon.” I said. “You called it a wastnd. What remains of the


    forests and the viges?”


    “Some forested areas still stand.” Arthur replied. “Most viges are in ruins. Many people were killed when Morgana attacked, but a significant number escaped before their viges were destroyed. Those survivors are now scattered.”


    “How many creatures survived?” I asked.


    “I don’t know.” Arthur said. “When Morgana began her assault they fled. I couldn’t determine casualty figures. You killed many of the attackers while you were there, but I can’t ount for the benevolent creatures–if any survived, they’re likely hiding.”


    “No dragons?” I asked.


    “None that I’ve seen.” He answered.


    “And where is Morgana living now?” I asked.


    “Her residence is intact.” Arthur said. “It’s heavily protected by a cloaking spell.”


    “A cloaking spell?” Elias asked.


    < CHAPTER 98


    “She can observe the outside, but we cannot see her or her home.” I exined.


    “Her castle.” Arthur added.


    “Whatever.” I said.


    im


    “When we reach her stronghold we need to locate as many survivors as possible and bring them to safety.” Arthur said.


    “If any are still alive, they’ve probably already sought refuge.” I replied.


    “There’s something else.” Arthur continued. “The ck witch is buried beside Mia at Morgana’s castle. The locals call her the Ash Queen now.”


    “So Morgana is the Ash Queen, and both Mia and the ck witch are interred at her estate. Why does that matter?” I asked.


    “She is furious that you killed them.” Arthur said.


    “The three were rted.” I said.


    “They were sisters.” Arthur exined. “Same father, different mothers–though the mothers were rted to each other as well. It’splicated.”


    “Not especially.” I said. “Their father was cruel and corrupt and a pig.”


    “Why tell us where the ck witch is buried? What’s the significance?” Elias asked.


    “I believe the Ash Queen may be attempting to find a means to resurrect her.” Arthur said.


    “Is resurrection possible?” Elias asked.


    “No. Don’t you watch movies?” I replied. “If it were, something would go disastrously wrong. No amount of legitimate magic can truly bring the dead back. Think of the risks and unintended consequences.”


    “So she can’t seed.” Elias said.


    “Not in the literal sense.” I said. “But if she believes she can, she will be distracted. That preupation could be an operational advantage for us.”


    Arthur took us to the same ce where he hade through the portal and I turned to make sure that everyone was ready. I got a chorus of voices floating through my head as they all agreed that they were so I nodded to Arthur and he started moving his hands in a counter clockwise direction and a portal opened up.


    Arthur stepped through first and then Elias and myself.


    :


    < CHAPTER 98


    im


    Everyone followed us through and I looked around at what used to have beautiful forests everywhere but now had nothing. It was hardened ck ground beneath us, not even dirt or


    sand.


    I turned in circles looking for anything that I might recognise but there was nothing.


    “Alright warriors. You know what to do. Don’t go too far that you’re out of range of the mind link, but check it out. Make sure everything is secure and yell if you run into trouble.” Elias


    ordered them.


    “I really don’t think we needed this many warriors.” Arthur said as the wolves started to run off into different directions in their groups.


    “And I wasn’t taking any chances with my mate being here. She was in danger the second she crossed through the portal.” Elias red at Arthur.


    “Can we please just start moving? I don’t like standing here like sitting ducks.” I said.


    “There’s arge vige up ahead. Maybe Elias can take these warriors to that vige and check it out. See if there are any survivors there.” Arthur said. But Elias growled at Arthur. <fn3f1e> Discover more novels at find?novel</fn3f1e>


    “And what do you n we do?” I asked.


    “I think we need to make our way to the Ash Queens castle.” Arthur said.


    “You said it yourself, she can see using but we can’t even see her castle.” I said.


    “I know. But I think with both of our magic, we might be able to get through the barrier.”


    Arthur said.


    “The whole point of bringing the warriors was for back up when we meet up with the Ash Queen. There’s no way in hell you are taking Lyra to the castle by herself.” Elias demanded.


    Arthur stared at him for a moment before he turned to look at me.


    I looked back at both of them. The look on their faces. And it was a pretty easy decision to


    make.


    “So, you said the vige is this way?<i>” </i>I asked, pointing south and I started walking towards the vige.


    I felt the happiness that Elias felt when I decided to go with him, but he doesn’t know the reason why I chose to go with him.


    Arthur would never suggest that we march into that castle on our own. It was reckless, borderline suicidal. Everyone knew the fortress was steeped in shadows, a nest of traps and


    < CHAPTER 98


    twisted magic that bent to the Ash Queen’s will. To set foot inside her stronghold was to hand her the battlefield on a silver tter, and Arthur–of all people–was too clever, too cautious, to ever risk that. And yet here he was, determined to go straight to her gates.


    im


    If he truly meant to save this realm, then why in all the goddess‘ names was he willing to y directly into her hands? There was no reason for him to face her there–none, except folly or desperation. He needed to draw her out, to force her to fight where she wasn’t in control, where the ground beneath her feet wasn’t infused with her power. That was strategy. That was survival. Anybody with a grain of sense could see it.


    So why couldn’t he? Or worse–why wouldn’t he?


    A chill twisted in my gut, sharper than fear, heavier than doubt. Something was wrong. I couldn’t name it yet, couldn’t put shape or reason to the unease gnawing at me, but it was there, pulsing like a bruise just beneath the skin. Something I didn’t trust. Something I didn’t like. And something I knew–deep down, with an urgency that set my pulse racing–I had to uncover before we sank any deeper into this so–called quest. Because once we passed a certain point, once we were locked inside the Ash Queen’s web, there would be no turning


    back.


    Elias caught up to me and held my hand so I would look at him, the look on his face said everything. Arthur was up to something. He didn’t tell us everything that we needed to know. Which I fully agreed with.


    2


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